This is Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, one of the treasures of Costa Rica. This incredible beach and park is located just outside of Quepos in Puntarenas Province. This park receives a large number of international tourists every year.
There is a fee of about $20 to enter the Parque, but it is absolutely worth the expense. This Parque is well known for its beautiful beaches and wildlife. In this blog post, we’ll go over how to get to Manuel Antonio and what you can expect inside.
Check out our Shop Page with a packing list for your trip. We have great options for photography and lounging on the beach at Manuel Antonio.
Getting There
If you’re heading towards Quepos from the north, you’ll simply take Route 34 south. This is the main highway, it’s well paved and in good condition. I rarely encounter traffic on the leg between Jacó and Quepos.
From the south towards Dominical and Uvita, it’s the same highway road but you’ll drive northwards. Like the leg to the north, it’s well paved and usually not very busy.
Once you’re in Quepos, getting to Manuel Antonio is very easy. There are ride sharing apps, cabs, and buses. Bus may be the easiest and cheapest way. The bus that heads to Manuel Antonio can be caught along the 618 road, which starts at the intersection of Calle 5 / Av.2. It will have a placard saying “Manuel Antonio”, and the fare is about 335 Colones (less than $1 USD).
Along this route, there are lots of unique restaurants and scenic views as the road goes over the mountains. The restaurant “El Avion” is highly reviewed and very unique as it has a decommissioned airplane within the restaurant.
When you arrive at Espadilla Beach, continue down to the end of the road. From there, you can walk up the Beach Trail to arrive at the entrance to Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio. There’s a turnstile at the entrance, and a fee of about 500 Colones.
I use this sling backpack when I’m travelling in Costa Rica. It has a zipper lock to secure your stuff. I like the sling as I can flip the bag to the front for easy access.
Navigating The Park
You’ll have to choose which direction to take at this point. If you go to the left, you’ll have the opportunity to walk along the Sloth Path. Sloths are more out in the morning so if you’re here early it’s probably better to choose left then. If you head right, you’ll walk through an elevated bridge path which goes through Mangroves. Along this path there are monkeys which will try to steal your items. Be sure to move your backpack to the front, and take off any glasses/jewelry you don’t want to lose.
I suggest bringing a securable backpack on your trip to Costa Rica. I like this one from Amazon, as I can lock it and it’s a sling. This allows me to quickly access the contents without removing the bag.
There are two beaches on opposite sides of the peninsula. This video starts at Espadilla South Beach, with some segments on the Park Trail. It’s very scenic and quiet as well. As you come to the end of this beach, you’ll come to a junction, where you’ll be able to walk around the path at Cathedral Point. This path is less maintained but affords outstanding views of the ocean from elevated pathways.
There’s a massive wooden lookout at this junction, which allows you to head up to tree level and look around. If you go past the wooden structure, you’ll find Manuel Antonio Beach, which is fantastic. There’s more people on this beach as it’s a crescent bay, which provides a bit more protection from the waves of the Pacific.
You can then head back to the main gate by the alternative path to get the most out of your time in the park. This is an amazing location and certainly worth visiting if you’re staying on the South Pacific Coast.
Want a taste of Costa Rica before you fly? 1820 coffee was my daily coffee here. It’s well priced, delicious and easy to order at home.
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